There are some days when you just don’t have time for complicated cooking. Slow cooking is a marvelous solution when you’re pressed for time or when you want to enjoy the savory goodness of slowly cooked meats and vegetables without heating up your kitchen. Slow cookers come in a variety of sizes which can assist you in making everything from small batches of sauces and dips to cooking big batches of soup or whole birds or roasts of meat. A slow cooker also offers convenient clean-up and easy transport options if you’re cooking for a potluck or other festive event.
1. Crock-Pot SCCPVL610-S Programmable Cook and Carry Oval Slow Cooker
If you’re looking for an excellent six quart slow cooker, you’ll find the SCCPVL610-S Programmable Cook and Carry Oval Slow Cooker by Crock-Pot easy to use. The digital control lets you program cooking times as short as half an hour and as long as 20 hours. The control automatically moves to a warm setting when cooking time is complete. This cooker’s locking lid provides a great seal and makes it easier to carry.
2. Hamilton Beach 33969A Set n’ Forget
Hamilton Beach also makes a great programmable slow cooker, the 33969A Set n’ Forget. It also has a six-quart capacity, which makes it a perfect cooker for up to a six pound chicken. Another nice feature of the Set n’ Forget is the thermometer probe that displays meat temperature while the meat is cooking. You can set the probe feature and the cooker will move to the warm feature as soon as the desired temperature is reached.
3. Hamilton Beach 33182A 8-Quart Slow Cooker
If you need something a little bigger, you might also enjoy using the Hamilton Beach 33182A 8-Quart Slow Cooker which can accommodate an eight pound chicken or six pound roast. The stoneware insert is dishwasher safe and the lid has a lid-rest so that you can serve food easily right from the cooker. This would be a great purchase if you frequently cook for a large family or group. Even if you don’t need to cook for more people, you can always use this cooker to make extras and save the leftovers!
4. Crock-Pot’s SCR300SS 3-Quart Round Manual Slow Cooker
Sometimes you don’t need a larger cooker. In fact, a smaller slow cooker can come in handy when you need to make sauces or stews. Crock-Pot’s SCR300SS 3-Quart Round Manual Slow Cooker may just fit the bill for those kinds of dishes, but it can also handle a three pound roast. Both the stoneware inset and glass lid are dishwasher safe. This attractive cooker has a brushed stainless steel surface. It also comes with a limited one year warranty.
5. The Proctor-Silex 33015Y 1-1/2-Quart Round Slow Cooker
Only cooking for one or two? The Proctor-Silex 33015Y 1-1/2-Quart Round Slow Cooker could be a nice addition to your kitchen. Great for soup, casseroles and other dishes, its removable crock is easy to clean and can even go straight from the cooker to your table if you’re in a hurry. Despite its small size, it still has the traditional three settings of low, high and warm. Its tempered glass lid helps keep both moisture and heat inside for great cooking.
6. Proctor-Silex’s 33043 4-Quart Cooker
Proctor-Silex’s 33043 4-Quart Cooker gives you that same durability you’ve come to expect and also a larger capacity for cooking. Customers like the way this cooker truly cooks the food slowly, not bringing the heat up too quickly. You’ll enjoy the delicious dishes you can cook evenly and tenderly with this slow cooker, which provides great value.
7. Cuisinart PSC-350 3-1/2-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker
Another slow cooker name you can trust is Cuisinart. Their PSC-350 3-1/2-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker has an attractive oval shape, nonslip rubber feet and dishwasher safe lid and pot. Its touchpad control has an LCD countdown timer. You can set it to low or high or even simmer foods for up to 24 hours. The simmer feature is especially nice as it can allow for leisurely cooking at a lower temperature. The cooker also comes with a cookbook that includes 50 recipes.
8. Crock-Pot Programmable Touchscreen SCVT650-PS Slow Cooker 6.5 Quart size
If you’re in the market for a cooker with a touchscreen, but need something larger, check out the Crock-Pot Programmable Touchscreen SCVT650-PS Slow Cooker 6.5 Quart size. You can cook roasts up to 7 pounds in its roomy interior. It has all the features you’ve come to expect from an excellent slow cooker, including dishwasher lid and stoneware insert. It comes with a 1-year limited warranty and a cookbook.
9. Hamilton Beach 33461 Stay or Go 6-Quart Portable Slow Cooker
If you’re looking for an especially portable slow cooker, try the Hamilton Beach 33461 Stay or Go 6-Quart Portable Slow Cooker. It has a single clip that helps keep the lid on securely when you’re carrying it, and handles that can snap up or down to make it easy to either carry or store. The lid hinges so you can serve food easily once you’ve transported the cooker, but it also detaches for clean-up. Like most cookers, it has three settings and a removable and washable insert.
10. MaxiMatic Elite MST-250XS Gourmet 1-1/2-Quart Slow Cooker
The MaxiMatic Elite MST-250XS Gourmet 1-1/2-Quart Slow Cooker is small, compact and attractive. Whether you’re looking to make appetizers, dip, baby food or just a small batch of soup, this little cooker’s got you covered. Three settings, removable lid and pot for cleaning, and multiple color choices combine to make this cooker a great choice for a smaller household.
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